In Western Sydney, Hassell’s First Building for Bradfield City Centre aims to be regenerative, adaptable and connected to First Nations culture.

Designed by international multidisciplinary design firm Hassell, the First Building, housing Stage 1 of the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF), is designed to foster innovation through its adaptability, design circularity and connection to Country.  

As the first completed building in Australia’s first new city in 100 years and part of the New South Wales State Government’s vision for a dynamic future in advanced manufacturing and innovation, it’s a unique workplace for innovative manufacturing projects.

Djinjama, the First Nations cultural research and design agency, has centred Country by way of connection between built and natural environments. Colour palette and materials are at the centre of this blurring of natural and built boundaries, with natural materials such as rammed earth and recycled tiles featuring. More generally, the project is inspired by the Cumberland Plain and the area’s natural waterways, leading to the design of an open structure with an emphasis on being inviting for visitors. It’s also surrounded by green gathering spaces. 

“As Bradfield City Centre takes shape, the First Building is a bold statement about what’s possible,” says Liz Westgarth, Hassell Managing Director and Principal in Charge of the project. “It sets a strong benchmark for how Bradfield will develop – great design, sustainable and honouring Country. It’s more than a building — it’s a living example of how we can transform our cities and our lives.”

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“The First Building proves that you can innovate, that you can create something extraordinary for a public, government project. It’s time to move forward, to embrace new ideas and to show that sustainability and great design belong together. And the First Building is our proof.”

The project is also notable for the modular approach underpinning the architecture. It has been conceived as a ‘kit of parts,’ part of a design-for-disassembly approach that means it can be expanded or even relocated. 

For Hassell, it’s about the principles of circularity and adaptability: “A kit-of-parts construction that can be reconfigured and reused ensures the building’s longevity and responsiveness to Bradfield’s future needs, representing the city’s commitment to adaptability and circularity,” explains Westgarth. 

Ken Morrison, CEO Bradfield Development Authority and AMRF Chair adds: “Bradfield City Centre is one of the biggest economic development projects ever undertaken in Australia. The First Building’s innovative design sets the benchmark for a vibrant, modern city that will build a stronger future for Western Sydney. We’ve made ambitious commitments to sustainability and resilience in Bradfield. First Building, designed to address climate impacts now and into the future, is just the beginning.”

Hassell
hassellstudio.com

Djinjama
djinjama.com

Photography
Mark Syke and Vinchy Wu

Explore designing with Country with Yerrabingin’s Christian Hampson